Soldiers Angry At Fashola’s Humiliation Of Colonel

Soldiers went wild yesterday and attacked officers of the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit at Yaba area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

This might not be unconnected with the ‘humiliation’ of an Army Colonel by Governor Babatunde Fashola on Tuesday for driving on BRT lane.

The soldiers attacked the taskforce officials with bottles and stones and used knife to puncture two tyres of the Black Maria used in conveying offenders.

Trouble started on Murtala Muhammed Way, Yaba close to an Army barracks when the taskforce officials, who were on patrol to ensure smooth flow of traffic, spotted a commuter bus parked in the middle of the road and obstructing traffic.

The tasforce officials were said to have accosted the driver but a soldier who was sitting in the bus collected the key from the driver to prevent the taskforce officials from taking the bus away.

The soldier was said to have called for reinforcement from the 81 Division barracks and within minutes, several soldiers trooped out from the barracks and began to haul stones and other dangerous missiles at the taskforce officials.

Some of the soldiers were said to be making unsavoury remarks about the governor for daring to arrest and humiliate an Army Colonel on Tuesday and decided to vent their anger on the taskforce officials.

As the situation worsened, the taskforce also called for a reinforcement.

It was in the heat of the clash that the tyres of the Black Maria were torn with knife and deflated.

An eye witness said a top military officer, a Lieutenant, allegedly ordered his boys to abduct some of the taskforce officials and take them to the barracks.

Calm was restored when a senior taskforce official intervened and asked his boys to beat a retreat.

Taskforce Chairman, Bayo Sulaiman confirmed the attack on his men and described it as an affront on the state government for soldiers to vandalise government vehicle.

He said it was wrong for soldiers to attack taskforce officials on legitimate duty with stones and other dangerous weapons

The taskforce should not dear solider i, will like to tell d gov dat he must respect an army staff their mentality is differet from dat of civilian d law of d citizen should be alittle differ from dat of d army. D gov should have invited d officer to his office immediately he sighted at him not to rain disgrace to dis officer and his uniform injurie for one is injurie for all can lagosian live, a second witout army in d barrack pls. Gov take note let there be maturity in our polity and democray.

Can tell you that the Army will one day vent its anger on Fashola for disgracing the Colonel. What I expected Fashola to do after the Army officer had obviously shown remorse by saluting the Governor was for Fashola to calm down and advise him to show good example. Today he is Governor, tomorrow he will not not.